18
Ar
Argon
The city’s signs have
been disappearing by
the day. The Hong Kong
government has cracked
down on signage it says
doesn’t comply with
building and safety codes.
Many business owners
replace the removed neon
signs with cheaper mass-
produced LED lights. Other
shopkeepers have chosen
to take down their signs
because they look dated. “In
the ’80s, if you walked down
the streets, you’d see neon
everywhere,” says Cardin
Chan, executive director
of the Hong Kong Neon
Heritage group. The once-
modern aesthetic is now
more associated with seedy
bars and red-light districts.
Streets that once were
bathed in neon often carry
just a solitary, flickering
sign—or none at all.Argonis thethird-mostabundantgas
intheatmosphere andthesecond-most
commonofthenoblegasesusedin
neonlights.Itemitsa paleblue-violet
hue—theintensityofthe colorisweaker
thanthered ofneon.HONG KONG LIGHTS
Photographs and text by Tommy Trenchard
◼ Argon $0.48 / liter 200-liter cylinder